Enhanced performance of Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+, Tm3+ reddish-orange afterglow phosphor by co-doping with Dy3+

• Single phase of Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+, Tm3+, Dy3+ tridoped phosphor was obtained.
• Effects of Dy3+ on the luminescent properties of CSN:E,T,D have been investigated.
• Enhanced performance of CSN:E,T,D phosphor by co-doping with Dy3+ was achieved.
• Balanced defect trap’s micro-environment is helpful for enhanced performance.

Two types of reddish-orange afterglow emitting nitride phosphors Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+, Tm3+ (CSN:E, T) and Ca2Si5N8:Eu2+, Tm3+, Dy3+ (CSN:E, T, D) were synthesized via a solid-state reaction route and were comparatively investigated. Comparing with the di-doped CSN:E, T phosphor, the tri-doped CSN:E, T, D samples show higher afterglow intensity and longer duration time which can be attributed to the balanced defect micro-environment caused by the presence of Dy3+.